Forbes no, Wittman yes on debt-ceiling deal

While most of Hampton Roads' representatives and senators forecast their positions ahead of a vote to raise the debt ceiling, Reps. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland County, and J. Randy Forbes, R-Chesapeake, kept their cards close to their chests.

The vote, which also funded the federal government through January, carried political peril for both, regardless of their positions.

For lawmakers in Republican-leaning districts, like Forbes and Wittman, a "yea" vote could risk angering conservative voters and inspiring primary challenges because the deal doesn't scale back the Affordable Care Act or address the rising cost of entitlement programs.

And for lawmakers who represent regions with heavy military presences — again, like Forbes and Wittman — "nay" votes could translate to criticism that a member supported extending the government shutdown, keeping furloughed workers at home and defaulting on the U.S.'s debt.

The final tally in the House was 285-144, with Wittman and Rep. Scott Rigell, R-Virginia Beach, joining 85 other Republicans in support of the measure. Forbes joined 143 Republicans who voted against it. Democratic Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, as well as Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Newport News, all voted for the deal.

Shortly after voting, Forbes said the bill presented to House members was "a way out" but "far from a way forward."

"This bill puts us on course to add over half a trillion dollars to our national debt and fails to address the ominous cloud of potential furloughs and job loss that our defense civilians will face in 2014," Forbes said, noting the damage from sequestration that still looms over the nation and Hampton Roads.

"I strongly agree with former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta that this bill continues the dangerous dismantling of our national defense. I cannot vote for a tomorrow that looks just like today," he said.

By contrast, Wittman said the choice was stark, and a default and continued shutdown were unpalatable options.

"I do not advocate for last-minute deals, but tonight the choice was yes or no, and the right thing to do was to re-open our government and stand by our obligations," Wittman said.

Wittman, however, made it clear he's no fan of the president's health care law.

"I supported previous efforts to fund government and repeal Obamacare because I believe the law is fundamentally flawed," he said. "The fight for real health reform will continue, and the fight for responsible governing will continue."

Still, Wittman took heat after his yes vote from both sides. The conservative Club for Growth promised to give members who supported the deal a bad grade on their score card as a result.

Alternatively, Democrats in his district panned him for allowing the shutdown to last as long as it did.

"Rep. Wittman could have been a leader and prevented this whole fiasco — and the worst thing is we could be right back here in 90 days," said Marc Broklawski, chairman of Virginia's First Congressional District Democratic Committee.

"We've been through this horrible experience of a federal shutdown in the First District where people have lost nearly three weeks of pay," Broklawski continued. "This isn't just hurting federal workers and contractors. Small businesses from Mathews to Prince William, and from Williamsburg to Fredericksburg, are wounded because of this shutdown — all due to Rob Wittman's refusal to stand up to his Tea Party pals."

For the candidate's full statements go to http://www.dailypress.com/news/politics/shad-plank-blog.